Scotland have always had a reputation of doing things the hard way. We always seem to rise to the occasion and perform better against, what seems on paper, stronger opposition. All of that was once again underlined this past Friday night in Zagreb.

New Scotland manager Gordon Strachan (right) chose to bring in Mark McGhee as his assistant coach of the national team

When Gordon Strachan was announced as the new Scotland manager on January 15, 2013, with his appointment also came immediate pondering from the Tartan Army on who would be the first to join his backroom staff. Would it be Garry Pendrey, the Birmingham City legend who assisted Strachan at Coventry, Southampton, Celtic and Middlesbrough? Or perhaps Gary McAllister, the Scotland legend who enjoyed an illustrious playing career and has been linked with the main national job on numerous occasions. In the end, it was neither, and wee Gordon chose to bring in another long-time friend— Mark McGhee.

Inverness boss Butcher turned down a chance to manage English Championship club Barnsley

News this week that Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Terry Butcher rejected the chance to head south for English Championship side Barnsley certainly seems to have a sense of irony about it. Having said that, it could also be deemed a rare act of defiance, and one in which was warmly welcomed in the Highland capital of Scotland. I, as many other Caley Thistle fans were I assume, was fearing the worst when Butcher was granted permission to speak to Barnsley.

Remember the night- Tuesday October 2, 2012, the night that Celtic Football Club won its first ever away match in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League. Celtic, a club enriched in so much history and tradition, still reigns as one of the biggest clubs in world football despite the financial difficulties that face Scottish football these days. Yet for one so huge, the club’s European away record in recent years has been abysmal at best. An embarrassing defeat against Danish side Aalborg springs to mind, as well as the unforgettable 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Artmedia Bratislava after which ex-manager Gordon Strachan deemed his “worst night in football.” Well that bogey was diminished once and for all when Neil Lennon’s side travelled to the intimidating Luzhniki Stadium venue to take on Russian giants Spartak Moscow- and in some style.